Comments on: What’s your least favorite airline fee? Pillows and blankets, says new poll http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/ The travel troubleshooter. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:07:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matthew B http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14483 Matthew B Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:43:27 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14483 I used to think that the airport concessions were expensive until the airlines started charging $7 for a dry sandwich and some plastic cheese. If I have to fly at my normal meal time, it is much cheaper to eat at the airport McDonalds than pay for the crap on the plane. At 5.30 a.m. at Newark Airport, for $7 you can get scrambled eggs, hotcakes, sausage, biscuit and a large OJ. Even if you're flying an airline that offers meals (like Continental) unless you're flight is over 3 hours, you're probably getting pretzels or nuts. McDonalds isn't the most waistline friendly or nutrititious food, but it's an improvement on most airline food. Depending on the airport, there can be plenty of options. I used to think that the airport concessions were expensive until the airlines started charging $7 for a dry sandwich and some plastic cheese. If I have to fly at my normal meal time, it is much cheaper to eat at the airport McDonalds than pay for the crap on the plane. At 5.30 a.m. at Newark Airport, for $7 you can get scrambled eggs, hotcakes, sausage, biscuit and a large OJ. Even if you’re flying an airline that offers meals (like Continental) unless you’re flight is over 3 hours, you’re probably getting pretzels or nuts. McDonalds isn’t the most waistline friendly or nutrititious food, but it’s an improvement on most airline food. Depending on the airport, there can be plenty of options.

]]> By: Marilyn Terrell http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14424 Marilyn Terrell Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:27:44 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14424 I was on a USA3000 flight from Bermuda to Baltimore on Tuesday and the flight attendant announced the names and contents of three "picnic boxes" for sale that evening: the Purple Box, the Safari Box, and some other silly name. They all contained a cookie, a cracker, some applesauce, and not much else, and the prices started at $7. I'm glad I ate before I boarded. But I do like flying to Bermuda for the low low price of $300 (I booked months ahead). I was on a USA3000 flight from Bermuda to Baltimore on Tuesday and the flight attendant announced the names and contents of three “picnic boxes” for sale that evening: the Purple Box, the Safari Box, and some other silly name. They all contained a cookie, a cracker, some applesauce, and not much else, and the prices started at $7. I’m glad I ate before I boarded. But I do like flying to Bermuda for the low low price of $300 (I booked months ahead).

]]> By: Ed http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14400 Ed Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:37:13 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14400 I find that the "purchase items on board" to be especially bothersome on international flights...Not necessarily the international flight it's self, but on the connecting flights...I recently flew round trip to Hong Kong several times last month and on my first trip, we flew back from Hong Kong and took a connecting flight to my home airport...Unfortunatly, when it came time to purchase my onboard "snack" I found that I had no american money in my posesssion! I had converted all my cash to Hong Kong Dollars and they certainly wouldn't take that for my sandwich purchase! So what was I to do? Well...Nothing...that's what! Luckily the flight was only 2 hours so when we landed, I treated myself to a great lunch at Red Robins! Yay! Ed web/gadget guru I find that the “purchase items on board” to be especially bothersome on international flights…Not necessarily the international flight it’s self, but on the connecting flights…I recently flew round trip to Hong Kong several times last month and on my first trip, we flew back from Hong Kong and took a connecting flight to my home airport…Unfortunatly, when it came time to purchase my onboard “snack” I found that I had no american money in my posesssion! I had converted all my cash to Hong Kong Dollars and they certainly wouldn’t take that for my sandwich purchase! So what was I to do? Well…Nothing…that’s what! Luckily the flight was only 2 hours so when we landed, I treated myself to a great lunch at Red Robins! Yay!
Ed
web/gadget guru

]]> By: John Hellewell http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14390 John Hellewell Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:53:30 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14390 As in the Brothers Grimm tales of the farmer who had a daughter who could spin straw into gold we have indeed invented the machine that can do just that. It operates every day at every airport across this great nation. We drink free water all across this land and for those who want a little more insurance they can buy bottled water by the case at about 20 cents per bottle. On one side of the security we must throw away that bottle of clean filtered water and watch the store attendant behind us place a case of that very same water on that very same belt, send it through and out the other side comes $3.00 per bottle water ($24.00 per Gal). Straw in to gold indeed. As far as beating the air lines at their game of charging to use blankets and pillows by bring on our own. Well don’t get to happy here, they will just charge a carry on fee or declare “only one carry on”, pillow or blanket or purse or computer case. If they want to charge for extra checked luggage then have the computer figure that at the time of booking, then those who do pay, those who don’t don’t but no problems and no surprises at check in. As in the Brothers Grimm tales of the farmer who had a daughter who could spin straw into gold we have indeed invented the machine that can do just that. It operates every day at every airport across this great nation.
We drink free water all across this land and for those who want a little more insurance they can buy bottled water by the case at about 20 cents per bottle. On one side of the security we must throw away that bottle of clean filtered water and watch the store attendant behind us place a case of that very same water on that very same belt, send it through and out the other side comes $3.00 per bottle water ($24.00 per Gal).
Straw in to gold indeed.
As far as beating the air lines at their game of charging to use blankets and pillows by bring on our own. Well don’t get to happy here, they will just charge a carry on fee or declare “only one carry on”, pillow or blanket or purse or computer case.
If they want to charge for extra checked luggage then have the computer figure that at the time of booking, then those who do pay, those who don’t don’t but no problems and no surprises at check in.

]]> By: Kathy Letourneau http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14387 Kathy Letourneau Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:51:32 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14387 I agree that the airlines should just increase the ticket prices instead of nickle and diming the consumer. My pet peeve is having to pay for the first checked bag. Unless you travel a lot and can pack what you need in a carryon case, this adds at least another $25.00 in each direction for the ticket. I would rather be charged when I book and pay and have it done with. Don't be surprised next time you fly you need change to use the bath room. I agree that the airlines should just increase the ticket prices instead of nickle and diming the consumer.

My pet peeve is having to pay for the first checked bag. Unless you travel a lot and can pack what you need in a carryon case, this adds at least another $25.00 in each direction for the ticket. I would rather be charged when I book and pay and have it done with.

Don’t be surprised next time you fly you need change to use the bath room.

]]> By: Dale Daniels http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14386 Dale Daniels Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:44:46 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14386 I love the "convenience fee" for booking online. The only way my daughter would have been able to avoid it would be to drive to the airport 20 miles away in heavy traffic. Such a "convenience"! I love the “convenience fee” for booking online. The only way my daughter would have been able to avoid it would be to drive to the airport 20 miles away in heavy traffic. Such a “convenience”!

]]> By: Karen Fawcett http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14379 Karen Fawcett Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:09:09 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14379 I despise the nickel and diming. But I also hate using airlines' blankets and bring my own. I don't have any faith that they are ever correctly laundered and assume the pillows have seen better days. Beat the airlines at their own game and travel with your personal pillow and blanket. I despise the nickel and diming. But I also hate using airlines’ blankets and bring my own. I don’t have any faith that they are ever correctly laundered and assume the pillows have seen better days. Beat the airlines at their own game and travel with your personal pillow and blanket.

]]> By: matthew http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14377 matthew Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:13:56 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14377 all the in-air charges and fees are ridiculous – build it into the ticket price just like they used to and like non-us carriers still do. it seems like a PR nightmare that they think cutting fares by 10 bucks to charge it back for a drink and a lousy sandwich is good deal. moreover, the logic of "there's no need for full meals on flights under 5 hours" is flawed. most people have been up and traveling many hours before the plane takes off just to get to the airport AND you can't bring your own food and bevs through security. all the in-air charges and fees are ridiculous – build it into the ticket price just like they used to and like non-us carriers still do. it seems like a PR nightmare that they think cutting fares by 10 bucks to charge it back for a drink and a lousy sandwich is good deal. moreover, the logic of “there’s no need for full meals on flights under 5 hours” is flawed. most people have been up and traveling many hours before the plane takes off just to get to the airport AND you can’t bring your own food and bevs through security.

]]> By: Sam http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14370 Sam Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:32:03 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14370 My new least-favorite is US Air ... I just found out that because I haven't flown with them in 18 months, my 58,000+ miles will expire unless I pay them $300. Great ... pay $300 so that I can recover miles that are nearly impossible to use ... My new least-favorite is US Air … I just found out that because I haven’t flown with them in 18 months, my 58,000+ miles will expire unless I pay them $300. Great … pay $300 so that I can recover miles that are nearly impossible to use …

]]> By: Ani http://www.elliott.org/blog/whats-your-least-favorite-airline-fee-pillows-and-blankets-says-new-poll/comment-page-1/#comment-14369 Ani Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:48:18 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=5200#comment-14369 I just tried to rebook my 'free' ticket. Of course, there is always some problem with the system and it won't allow me to rebook it. I had to call NWA to do it, then they charge you for the $50 rebooking fee, plus a $25 fee for them doing the rebooking, because their computer system won't allow me to do it. (Even tried their technical help line and they couldn't do it). Of course, World Perks had no problem rebooking. I think they purposely do it, so they can nickel and dime you at every step of the way. I I just tried to rebook my ‘free’ ticket. Of course, there is always some problem with the system and it won’t allow me to rebook it. I had to call NWA to do it, then they charge you for the $50 rebooking fee, plus a $25 fee for them doing the rebooking, because their computer system won’t allow me to do it. (Even tried their technical help line and they couldn’t do it). Of course, World Perks had no problem rebooking. I think they purposely do it, so they can nickel and dime you at every step of the way.
I

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